Loose-leaf binder.



0. H. SCHRAEGER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER..

APPLIoATIoN FILED '1130. 11, 190e.

`Patented 3311.251909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

`O. H. SCYHRAEGER. .LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLIoATloN FILED 13,110.11,190s.

Patented Jan. 26,1909.

` 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lilimumm Z5 ul tion and eilicient in operation.

` UNITED: srnrns PATENT onmon.

orro n. SCHRAEGER. OF KALAMAZoo, MICHIGAN,

1.oos'n-Iainr BINDER.

specification of Lei-.eers Patent.

Patented aan. 26, 1909.

Application filed Deceinber. 11, 1906. Serial'No. 347,260.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Orro H.' SCHRAEGEP., a citizen of the United'States, residing vat Kala# mazoo, county of Kalamazoo, State of Michian,have invented certain new and-.useful mpr ovements 'in Loose-LeafBinders, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements inv vloose leaf binders and theobject of the same is to provide an improved device of this char-` acterthat will be simple, cheap and compact 1n constructlon, capable of easy'manipulation, in an open position; Fig.`2 is a longitudinal sectionalview on line 2-2' of Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig.l 1. Fig.`4 is asectional view online44, of Fig. 1.v Fig. lm

5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Flg: 6 1s a, sectionalviewon lme 6-6. of Fig.

- 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7 7 of 1`igf1. Fig. 8 is adetail view of one of the pulleys and its operating gear'and a portionv0f the 'thong or flexible member secured thereto. `llig. 9 is a detailsectional'view of the operatingr gear for the pulleys. 10 4is a detailsectional view of the gear and pulley: and shield-for the liexibleconnecting member. Fig-11. is a detail perspective view of the shield.AFig. l12 is detail sectional view of a portion of one of the covermembers. Fig. 13 1s a-modified for1n, partly 1n section,

of one of the clamping members.' Fig. 14 is' a modified form of thethong or iiexible conneo-ting member.

Referring more particularly to the draw'- ing, the same referencenumerals designate similar and in, t is exempliflcation of theinvention,

'the binder preferably coin rises two cover sections, designated generay by' the reference characters A- B. Each of these sections preferablycomprises a top and bottom parts throughout the several views.

member 15,116. These members are each provided with iside'l 'ange's-17,18 res ec tively, the side flanges 17-being adapte to be inserted withinthe flanges .18 and thea two members v15, 16 are secured together infanysuitable manner such as by means 'ofheaded screws orbolts 19, whichpass 'through an aperture in the flanges 1.8` and registeringoppnsl0t's20 in the flanges 17 and engage suita le nuts'21 on the 'inside ofthe flanges- 17. When it isl desired to separate thse two members 15,'16 the screws or bolts.

19 may be loosened and the open slots 20 in the flan es 17 Willdperinitthe member 15 to' l be readi y remove Secured within one of thesections, preferabl the section B, and to the lower memberl etween thelianges 18 is a frame 22. This frameextends acros flanges 18 thereof topermit the flanges 17 on the lpper member or section l Ato be in' sertewithin -the spacwhen the members 'are assembled'. 'l`h1s'fra`1n'e 22 isota height bers spaced from each other, andsaid 4frame may be securedin4 position preferably-ada cent one end of the section 16 in any suitale ing throu h the section 16 and the lower portion of t e frame.Journaled within this frame 22 are gear wheels 24 arranged to mesh witheach other and said gear wheels are preferably of such a diameter as toextend beyond the sides ofthe frame. A ortion of said gear wheels 2.4 isreduce and said member '.16'and terminates shortof the sidelsubstantially equal to the height of thelanges 18 and-.comprises thetop 'an'd bottom memanner, such as by means of rivets 23 -passportionisprovided with a peripheral roove.

26' to form a pulley, the diameter of w ich is somewhat smaller than thediameter of the' gear'24. The pulley 25 and gear 24 arepreferably formedintegral. witlreaeh other but if desired, they may be formed separatelyand secured tooether in any desired manner, as will be un 'erstoodSuitable 4clampinV 4members are secured between the top an bottommembers 15, 16 of the respective sectionsand said clamping members.referably com rise a centrallsection 27, w lich may be hed stationary inany desired manner, preferably by means of the' projection 28, whichlatter is secured to the upper section 15 byl means of suitable bolts29. The end-s 30 of this central'section are preferably reduced as at 314to form shoulders' tions 27, 33.

32 and said ends 30 terminate short of the side flanges 17 of the topmember 15. Secured to the flanges 17 are end members -or sections 33,which are preferably of a diameter equal to the diameter of the section27. 'lhe extremities 34 of these end sections 33 terminate short oftheends 30 of the section 27 to form a space therebetween and saidextremities are reduced as at 35 similar to the extremities 30 of thesection 27. Sleeves or collars 36 are disposed between the extremitiesofthe section 27 and the end sections 33, and are of a diameter toreceive the reduced extremities 30, 34 of the respective members andsaid sleeves 36 are also of a length to lill the space so that the endsthereof will rest against the shoulders formed by the respec' tivereduced extremities 31, 35 of the sec- Passing transversely through thesleeves 36 and at a point preferably intermediate the extremities 30, 34of the members 27, 33 are apertures 37.

A shaft 38 is arranged referably transversely of the section 16 an saidshaft is proment of the-shaft.

vided with a worm gear 39, which is adapted to mesh with one of the gearwheels 24. 'l he shaft 38 is pivotally mounted within the section 16 inany desired or suitable manner, preferably by means of one extremity 40thereof being 'ournaled in a bearing 41, which is prefere ly pivoted tothe section 16. rlhe extremity 40 of this shaft 38 is preferablyprovided with an enlarged'portion or head 42, which is adapted to engagethe outer face of a pivoted bearing 41 to revent displacerlhe other end43 of this shaft preferably asses through registering slots orelongated) apertures 44 in the side flanges 17, 18 on 4the oppositeside,v of the cover section and the extremity 45 ofthe end 43 ispreferably angular in configuration for a urpose to be set' forth. Theworm gear`39 1s held normally in engagement with the re- `which isprefera spective gear 24 in any'suitable manner, preferably by means ofa yielding member 46, such as coils rings or the like, one end of blysecured tothe frame 22 and the other end to a collar 47, which looselysurrounds the shaft 38 adjacent the end remote from the pivoted bearing41. Secured between the members 15, 16l of the cover section A is asimilar clampin member comprising a central section 27, en sections 33and rotatively mounted sleeves 36 disposed between the central and endsections and said sleeves 36 are also 1provided with transverseapertures 37, .Whic are in alined -ment with the apertures 37 of thesleeves 36 in the clamping `member of the other cover section. y

Slidinglyvmounted in the section A, be-

4tweenthe members 15, 16 thereof, is a memmember 48 may be mounted forsliding movement -within'the cover section in any suitable y manner,preferably by means of lateral projecting bars or portions 49, whichlatter pass through suitable, bearings 50, preferably secured to thelower face of the member 15.

Suitable guides 51 are also preferably secured l to the member 15,preferably between the member 48 and the respective clam ing member.One' end of a thong or flexib e member 52 passes through a suitableaperture 53 in one of the pulleys 25 and is secured to said pulley inany suitable manner. The thon 0r flemble member 52 then passes around-te pulley and' through the transverse a erture A37 in the respective'sleeve 36 0f :he clamping member inthe cover section B. From the sleevethe thongpasses through the eorre= sponding sleeve 36 in the oppositeele1np= ing member, then through the'adjacent guide 51 throughy asuitable' aperture 'in the sliding member 48 adjacent one end thereof,then across and through a similar aperture inthe other end of the member48, thence for wardly again throu fh the adjacent guide 51 yapertures-37 in the s eeves 36 at the other en Y of' the respectiveclamping members, thence around the other pu ley 25 and with itsextremity passin through a Similar @perf ture 53 in they pu ey, atwhichpoint .the said end may be suitably fastened. In order to revent thethong or flexible member 52 rom making an abrupt or sharp corner at thepoints where it passes through the apertures in and behind the member48, a suitable ,block or. extension 54 may be secured to the rearface ofthe member 48 and over whichv the said thong or flexible memberisladapted to pass. I

The leaves to be bound are provided with the usual slots in one end andSaid leaves are placed between the clamping members so that the thong,or flexible member 52 be tween the clamping members will pass into theslots.- leaves have been thus inserted, a suitable key or wrench ma beapplied to the angular extremity 45 of t e shaft 38 so as to rotate theshaft and through thel medium of the Yorm gear 39 and the orears 34,ythe thong or flexible member 52 will be Wound upon the When the desirednumber of' iooy pulleys 25, thereby drawing the clamping. i f

In order; to

flexible member at the points preferably intermediate the sliding member48 and the guides 51, and serre to place said thong orv flexible'Unember always under tension. When it is desired to separate theclamping members to permit additional leaves to be inserted or forthefremoval of .the leaves l already inthe binder,the worm gear 39 ismoved out of engagement with the respective vgear 24. This may beaccomplished by moving the angular extremity 45 of the shaft 38 in theslot 44, against the tension of the yielding member 46', so as to causethe bearing tojturn uponits pivot,lthereby disengagmg the Worm gear 39and the :respec- 1ive gear. When the shaft is in this position the coversections A,

l cause the thong cr flexible member-52 to be paid out from therespective pulleys 25.

ln order to cover the extremiti'es of the leaves between the clampingmembers Yand to form a back for the binder, a suitable flexible member56, such as leather, canvas,

duch or the" like, maybe provided. One

end 57 of this flexible member is preferably secured to the member 16 ofthe cover section.

B and said member passes between section 16 and the respective clampingmember. T he free end thereof is passed between the member 16 and theclamping member of the other section A of the cover and said end 58 isadapted to restand move upon the member 16. f

ln order to place the free end of this member 56 under tension and toprevent the same from becoming accidentally displaced,

the said end 58 may be secured Within the cover section A 1n anysuitable man-ner,

such as by meansv of yielding members or. springs 59, one end of whichjssecured to the end 58 and the free ends may be secured to V.the endfiange 60 of one of the members 1 5, 16.

ln order to prevent the ends of the thongs or flexible members 52frombecoming displaced and. to direct them around the pulleys 25,suitable guides I61 may be provided and these guides may be secured inany desired manner to one side of the frame 22 so as to surround theprojecting portion of the pul- Ieys 25l and cover the peripheral grooves26 therein.

If desired, the clamping members may be constructed of a single piece62, Which is provided with suitable transverse apertures '63 adjacentthe ends thereof and said clamping member 62 maybe pivotally supportedbe-` tween the ends bf the members 15, 16 ofthe respective coversections A, B in any suitable ianner, such as by means of screws orbolts 64. With such an arrangement, it will be.

noted that the operating parts are located Within the cover sectionandare remote from the back of the binder and when the 'cover is openthe sections A, IB will lie perfectlyv Y fiat in order to permit of theready operation to the operative parts by simply loosening the screws orbolts 19.

Wvhile in this exemplification of the invention the thong or flexiblemember 52 is shown B -m'ay be quicklyV separated by drawing them apart,'which' W1 and described as a single, continuous piece, it is to beunderstood that instead of passing the body of the member or th ong 52through the sliding member 48 and ever the block 54g,- `the said thonger member 52 may be made in two sections with therfrce extremity of eachsection secured to the member in any suitable manner- Y p lt is thoughfrom-theabove description that the operation will be clear and'in ordervthat the invention migt #e hilly understood, the details of anembodiment thereof vhave been thus specifically described.`

`1. ln a device of the :hasvs'n described, the

clamping members .resnectivelyrpivoted to operatively related to theVeazible-mernber for vtightening the same toadjnsttheelamping members,and separaa'ie' means detachably and automatically holding the latter inits adjusted position. I x Y V2. In a devicevor the clas'sfdescribed,the

thc ends of and locate end of said fiexibte membertoone of the`-`-secoperativelylrelated to .theotherend of the .exible, member for.tightening theflatter, )means detachably engaging the tightening meansfor-operating samevand yielding vmeans for holding thelast said meansvin envgagement with the' said tightening means.

3. In a device of the class .describedgtlg clamping 'members resectiveiy connected-'to a fiexible member, means for .securing` one endof said iexible member to one of the sec-' tions, means carried bytheother sectionandvoperatively related to the other end of the flexiblemember for tightening the-.lattenmeans detachably engaging the'tightening `meansfor holding Jthe last said means mnen gagement Withthe said tightening means, and means for holding the flexible membernormallyv under tension. Y Y 4. In a device of the class described,thecombination of separate cover sections ilivber for connecting saidsections, means for yieldingl f securing one end of said member the endsof and located between fthe-sections', Y a flexible member,meansfforsecuring one 'end of the lexible Imenfibefrtoene ert'hefs'eci vtions, means carried bv theotheirse'ction'and related to the last saidmeans foradjustably.

combination of se arate cover; sections cluding clamping members, ,aflexibe mem' Veombination of separate; cover,A 'fsectionsffv'combination oiseparate,cover` `sections,.. clamping members' res,cctivelyf e'ormeetedto dbetween the sections, v a flexible member.meansjforsecuring one tions, means'ca'rried bythe'other sectionY and theends of and locate betta/een the'sections, lvl-1U iis means foroperating the same, yielding" to one o the sections, means carried bythe others tion and cperativelyrelated to thel other enl of the member,vmeans operatively i related to the last said means for operating l thesame to tighten the exible members to 13d' .and Yfor automaticallyadjust the clamping'members, andvanad'- ,justable flexible memberadapted to cover `the space between the clamping members.

other section and operatively related to the other ,end of the member,means operatively related to the last said means for operating the sameto tighten the flexible members to adjust the clampin members, anadjustable flexible member a apted to cover the space.

between the clamping members, and means for maintaining thelast saidflexible member under tension. j j

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of separate coversections,

clamping members pivotally connected to the adjacent ends of saidsections, a flexible member'passing transversely through said members,means for yieldingly securing one end of the member toone of thesections, v'means carried by the other section and operatively relatedto the free end of the flexible member, means normallyengaging the lastIsaid means for 'opprating the same yto tighten the flexible mem er foradjusting the clamping members, and means whereby the last said meansmay be moved out of operative osition to permit the. clamping members toese arate f 7 n a device of the' class described, the combination ofseparate cover sections, including clamping members, aflexible memberfor connecting said sectionsfmeans for one endV of said flexible memberto ed on the other section and aroundwhich the other end of the flexiblemember is adapted l to be wound to adjust the section and a common meansfor rotating the last said means holding the same against rotation.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination ofseparate.cover/sections, including clamping members, a flexible memberfor connecting said sections, means for securing one end of saililexible member to one of the sections, means rotatively mounted on theother section and aroun il which the other end of the lexible member isadapted to be wound` to adjust 4the section, means normally engaging thelast said means -for rotating and lor holding the same againstindependent rotation andmeans whereby the sa1d rotating means may bemoved out of operative position. n,

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of separate coversections, including clamping members, 'a flexible member for connectingsaid sections, means-for 'yiel securing one'end of said flexible membertoone of the sections, means rotatively mounted on the other section andaround which the other end of the lleiible memberis adaptedto be woundto adjust the section, means for operating the adjustingv means, 'meansnormalliv engaging the operating means -forj ingly holding the same inengagement with the adjusting means, said operating means being adaptedto be moved out of operative osition and against the tension'of said yiedin Y means. Y

' 10. In a' evice of the class described, thr combination of separatecover sections including clamping members, a ilexible'connecting member,meansfor securing one end of the member to one of the sections, a pulleyjournaled to the other section, and to which the free end of thellexible member is secured, a gear operatively related to the pulley,anda common means enga in l saidgear for rotating the pulley to win t eflexible member thereon to adjust the clamping members and holding thepulley against rotation.

11'. In a device of the class described, the combination of separatecover sections including clamping members, a llexible co'nnectinCmember, means for securing onel end 'of the member to one of thesections, a pulley j our naled to the other section, and to which thelree end of the flexible memberis secured, a gear' operatively relatedto the pulley, and means engaging saidgear for rotating the pulley towind the flexible member thereon to adjust the clamping members, saidmeans being adapted to be moved out of engage- 'ment with the gear topermit the pulley to be freely rotated when the cover sections areseparated.

' 12. In a device of the class described, the combination ofseparatejcover sections including clamping members, a llexible con`necting member, means for yieldingly securiinff one vend thereof to oneofthe sections, a puleyjournaled to the other section, around which thefree end of' the flexible member is adapted to be wound, a gearoperatively related to the pulley,'means normally engaging the gear foroperating the same to rotate the pulley-and yieldingmeans for normallyholdmg the operating means in engagementV with 'the gear, said meansbeing adapted to be moved out of engagement with the gear and againstthe tension of the yielding means.

13. In adevice of the class described, the combination of separate coversections, including clam ing members, a flexible connecting mem ersecured between its ends to one oi the sections, intermeshinfr 'gearsjournaled to the other section, pu leys operatively related to the gearsand aroundwhich' gears for 'rotating the 'combination oi separate coversections, in-

cluding vclan'iping members, a flexible connecting member securedbetrvecnits ends to one of the sections, int-ermeshing gears journaledto the other section, pulleys operatively related to the gears andaround which the free ends of the flexible member -are ada' ted to beWound, a shaft, a gear operative y related tothe shaft and engaging onevoi the first said gears, and means for shifting the shaft to move thelast said gear/out of engagement nfith the iirst said gear.

15.111 a device of the class described, the combination of separatecover sections, including clamping members, a ex'ible connecting membersecured between its ends to one of the sections, intermeshing gearsjournaled to the other section, pulleys operatively related to the gearsand around which the free ends of the flexible memberare adapted .to beWound, a shaft, a gear operatively related to the shaft and engaging oneof the first said gears, yielding means for holding the last said gearin engagement With the iirst said gear for operating the pulleys, andmeans whereby said shaft maybe shifted against the tension oftheyielding means to move the last said gear out of operative position. y16. In a device oi. the class, described, the combination of separatecover sections including clamping members, a flexiblecon.

necting member secured between its ends to one of' the sections,mtermeslung gears journaled. to the other section, nulleys opera--tively related to the gears and around which 'the freel ends of theexible. members are ada ted to be Wound, a pivoted bearing, a shaflt,one end of which is journaled 1n the bearing, means for adjustablysupporting the otherend of the shaft Aa Uear o erativel re- 1 s P ylated to the shaft and normally engaging one of the iirst said gears torotate the pulleys when the shaft vis o era-ted, and yieldingv means fornormally ho ding the shaft in operative osition.

i7.' n a device oi the class described, the

combination ofl separate cover sections includmg clam ing members, aiieXiblev connecting mem er secured between its ends to one oi thesections intermeshin "Gears 'ouri naled to' the other section, pu eysoperatively' related to' the gears and around which the tree endsbf thecxible members are adapted tobewound, a ivoted bearing, a shaft, 'oneend of Which is journaled-in the bearing, means for adiustablysupporting the yother end or the shaft, ingear operatively related tothe shaft and normally en aging one of the ifirst said gears to rotateft eulleys When the shaft is operated, a collar oos'ely l ing' saidmember between its ends to one of.

the sections, intermeshing gears journaled to the other section, pulleysoperatlvely related to the gears and around which the ends oftheflexible member are adapted to be wound, a

shaft, means for pivotally supporting one end of the shaft, means forsupporting the other end of the shaft, a gear ,on the shaft normallyengaging one of the iirst said gears, and yielding means operativelyrelated to the other end of the shaft and adapted to hold the last saidgears in engagement, said shaft being adapted to be moved about itspoint of pivotal support and against the tension of the yielding meansto disengage the gear.

I9. In adevice of the class described, the f combination of separatepover sections, including clam ing members, a flexible connecting memer, means for yieldingly securing said member between its ends to one ofthe sections, intermeshing gears journaled to the other section, pulleysoperatively related to the gears and around Whlch the ends oftheliexible member is adapted to 'be Wound, a shaft, means for pivotallysupporting one end of the shaft, means for supporting the other end ofthe shaft, a ear on the shaft 'normally engaging one of ti e first saidgears, yielding means o eratively related to the other end of the sial'tand adapted to hold the last said gears in engagement, said shaft beingadapted to be moved about its point of pivotal support and against thetension of the yielding means, to disengage the gear, la second flexiblemember secured by one end to one ofthe sections and yielding meansforse- A curing the -free end to the other section.

20. In a device of'the class described, the

combination ot separate cover sections incl/uding clamping members; aflexible connecting member, a member shdmgly mounted on one of thesections and to which one end of the flexible member is secured, mea-nsmounted on the other section and engaging the reeend of the flexiblemember for tightening the same to adjust the sections, and means, oeratively related to the sliding member ror maintaining the flexiblemember under tension'.

2l. In a device of the class described, the combination of separatecover sections including clamping members, a flexible connecting member,means for securing said member between its ends to one of the sec tions,pulleys journaled to the other section and around Which the tree ends ofthe nerdbleA member are adapted to be wound, a guard for said pulleys,and means operatively related to the pulleys for rotating the same totighten the flexible member and adjust the sections. p

22. In a device of the class described, the

combination of separate cover secti'onsinf pulley for rotating the sameto tighten the zexible member to adjust the sections;`

'23. In 'a device of the class described, the combination of separatecover sections including clamping members, a flexible connecting member,means for securingy said member to one of the sections, means inc-ludinga pulley ournaled tothe other section for securing t e flexible memberthereto ano around which the said member is adapted to be Wound, andinterenga'ging and se arable means operatively related to the pu ley forrotating the same to ltighten the flexible member to adjust thesections.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence cftwo subscribing witnesses', -on this 4th day of December A.D. 1906.

' OTTO H, SCHRAEGER.

Witnesses:

FRANK S. WESTON,

DONALD O. BONDEMAN.

